The Let Us Breathe Forum: Building Toward Black Liberation

Nearly ten years after the first Let Us Breathe Forum and an inaugural round of grantmaking focused on police reform, the Let Us Breathe Fund has evolved into a thriving community rooted in powerful and diverse visions for Black liberation.

Join North Star Fund, Let Us Breathe Fund grantee partners, community organizers, and resource mobilizers from across the region for this forum. We will deepen our relationships and build a shared analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing Black movements in New York State. We will work together to strengthen investment in Black-led organizing and explore how we can transform the way philanthropy operates to support movement building.

Together, we will:

• Share reflections and learnings from The Let Us Breathe Fund
• Celebrate the Let Us Breathe Fund grantee community
• Highlight New York’s Black organizers and Black-led organizations
• Explore how to build a stronger and more strategic grassroots movement
• Build support for deeper investment in Black-led organizing
• Create spaces for Black communities and allies to strategize about the resources needed to address anti-Black racism and intersecting issues affecting Black communities

This event will center the experiences, voices and vision of Black-led organizations and Black organizers in New York City and the Hudson Valley. 

Learnings from this gathering will be documented for the strategic planning use of the organizations attending. A secondary goal is to share learnings to inform, influence and guide  investment strategies for philanthropic and government entities interested in supporting Black-led organizing in New York!

Join us to reflect upon our learnings and collaboratively build towards a long-term strategy:

Friday, Feb 9, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm: Designed to build community amongst diverse Let Us Breathe Fund stakeholders (grantee, funder and movement partners).

Saturday, Feb 10, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm: A movement-only space, providing an opportunity for North Star Fund grantees and Community Funding Committee members to deepen their relationships.

Advance registration is required. Please register for each day you will attend. Grantees and CFC members are invited to register for both days. When you register, let us know about any support and accessibility needs you may have for the event. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided. Spanish interpretation will be available.

The event will take place in person (New York City, Midtown East). The space is wheelchair accessible.

North Star Fund will confirm your registration by email and provide additional details, including the venue address and our updated COVID safety policy, prior to the event. Please contact lub@northstarfund.org with any questions.

Registration is now closed for this event.

Schedule at a Glance

Feb 9: Day 1

9:00-10:00: Check In and Breakfast
10:00-11:00: Welcome and Community Connection Activity
11:00-12:30: Opening Plenary: Now is the Time: Building Liberation through Black-Led Organizing
12:30-1:30: Lunch
1:30-1:45: Energizer
1:45-3:00: Afternoon Plenary: Black Liberation Movements: Local to Global
3:15-3:45 Closing and Call to Action
4:00-6:00 Cocktail Reception, Dinner and Celebration            

Feb 10: Day 2

9:00-10:00: Check In and Breakfast
10:00-11:00: Welcome and Community Connection Activity
11:00-12:00: Opening Plenary: Reflecting on Nearly 10 Years of The Let Us Breathe Fund
12:00-1:00: Lunch
1:00-2:15: Cultivating Liberatory Leadership
2:45-4:00: Healing Justice Workshop
4:00-4:20: Artistic Offering
4:45-5:15: Closing Remarks
5:30-7:00: Community Dinner